Bio: Timerson, Alvin (Badly Burned - 1917)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Timerson, Rossman

----Source: Granton News (Granton, Clark County, Wis.) 11/02/1917

Timerson, Alvin (Badly Burned - 28 OCT 1917)

While trying to thaw out a gasoline tractor last Sunday morning, Alvin Timerson, a young farmer about 24 years of age, near Spokeville, received such terrible burns that his life is despaired of, and caused the destruction of a large barn, 40 tons of hay and about 100 bushels of oats, which were stored in the barn.

Mr. Timerson, living on what is best known as the Fred Rossman farm, was preparing to do some plowing that day and used a gasoline torch to thaw out a frozen radiator. In pouring gasoline from a 5 gallon can onto the smoldering torch the inflammable stuff ignited and communicating to the fumes in the can caused such an explosion and fire as to frightfully inure Mr. Timerson and start the blaze which was uncontrollable until the big barn and all its contents were consumed. Mrs. Timerson, going to the assistance of her husband, was most frightfully burned about the hands and arms, and was, with him, taken to the Marshfield Hospital the next day, where they are since patients. Mr. Timerson's burns though are so serious that it is expected his death will result therefrom. Neighbors assisting at the fire saved the couple's hundred bushels of oats from the burning barn and have since watched the burning ruins night and day, so that sparks from same would not set other of the farm buildings afire.

Paralysis developed in Mr. Timerson's case Wednesday morning and he is since paralyzed from the hips down, and rumor has it that Mrs. Timerson may be obliged to submit to the amputation of one of her hands, so serious in this injury.